Swingable boat propulsion and steering unit



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SWINGABLE BOAT PROPULSION AND STEERING UNIT April 17,

Filed Sept. 5, ,1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

April 17, 1956 w, DAMELS 2,742,013

SWINGABLE BOAT PROPULSION AND STEERING UNIT Filed Sept. 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla-6" INVENTOR.

JAMES W. 04 NIELS 773mm W y 0W 4 T703416 VS 2,742,613 r SWINGABLE BOAT rngg gsronnnn STEERING James W. Daniels, Fort Myers, Fla., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, toIShal-O-Draft Boats, ilnc.

Application September 3, '1Q 54,Serial'No. 453,992 j 4 Claims. 01. 115-41 rudder assembly shiftable from .aposition beneath the boat to a position within the boat when the boatmeets an obstruction or runs aground. The present invention permits the propeller and rudder assembly tobe shifted upwardly a greater distance into the -boat'than has heretofore been possible. j

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a shallowtdra'ft boat constructed with a well in which a propeller and rudder assembly-is swingable from a position below the .boat to .a position above the well in the boat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a propeller that is swingable upwardlyabove the boat so that weeds and debris that might accumulate on the propeller and on the rudder may be readily cleaned from the propeller and rudder, and that the replacement of propeller blades and rudder blades is made more easily accessible.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a propeller and rudder assembly which is easily shifted upward from its position beneath the boat without disconnecting any part of the propeller or its shaft from the engine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a propeller and rudder assembly which is normally extended beneath the boat and connected to an inboard engine but which upon meeting an obstruction or becom ing clogged with weeds may be raised upwardly without disconnecting either the propeller and its shaft from the engine or the rudder from the rudder steering mechanisml These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view in cross section on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing in dotted lines the raised position of the propeller shaft and platform;

Figure 3 is a top plan view partly in section on line 3-3 of Figure 2; a V

Figure 4 is a partial view in section on line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 shows a detail of construction of the aft end of the boat.

Referring in greater detail to. the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the invention is seen to consist of a shallow draft boat 10, the bottom 11 of which has been provided with an opening 12 which extends from the stem end forwardly and terminates at a point spaced. from the bow. Side 2,742,013 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 ing are spaced in upstanding position along the sides of an openingto form a well 15.

A platform 16 normally fits across the opening 12 and adjacent one end has a rudder 17 and a propeller 18 secured by means of the rudder post bearing 19 and the propeller strut 21. The platform 16 is provided with an opening 22 through which extends the drive shaft 23 which connects the propeller 18 to the gear housing 24. A block 25 supports the gear housing on the platform '16 at the end opposite from the rudder and the propeller, 17 and 18 respectively.

The gear housing .24 constitutes the driving mechanism for the propeller and is supported at each of its ends in the walls 13. Throughone wall projects the shaft v26 upon which are secured the drive pulleys 27 operatively connected to the engine 28. It will be seen that the platform 16 is movable from its position at an angle to the horizontal in the opening 15 upwardly to a position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 above the shaft 26 there being no other support for the platform at the end of the platform adjacent the engine. The platform 16 is supported in the position adjacent the lower ends of the walls by strips 29 which extend along each side .of the opening and are secured to the boat bottom as seen in side elevation in Figure 2 and in end view in Figures 4and 5.

' On one wall 13 of the well 15 is secured the steering mechanism consisting of an upright shaft 31 and a steering wheel 32. The shaft has a gear 33 engaging a secand gear 34 which is connected to the crank arm 35 inside of the well. A control rod 36 connects the crank .arm to the rudder post 37. It will be seen that when the platform 16 is raised from its position at an angle to the horizontal to the vertical position above the walls of the well, the crank arm 35 will pivot sufficiently to permit the platform 16 to be raised without removing the control rod 36 from the rudder post.

Although it will be seen in Figure 2. that the platform 16 is connected by the shaft 26 to the walls 13 for its movement from its position in the opening at an angle to the horizontal to a vertical position above the walls, carrying the rudder and the propeller from a position below the opening to a position above the well, the forward or bow end of the platform, being positioned slightly within the opening 12 of the well 15 will not project down- 1 wardly below the bottom of the boat upon movement of the propeller orthe rudder when the propeller skid 38 walls 13 and an end wall 14 at the bow end of the openhits an obstruction.

This provision prevents the bow end of the platform from scooping water into the Well unnecessarily. In the raised position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the propeller and rudder are available for cleaning and replacement, it being expected that the boat would not be traveling in the water during such period of time of replacement or cleaning.

The stem end of the well 15 is closed by a sliding panel 39 which slides upwardly in the groove strips 41 on the stern of the boat. A pair of outwardly projecting brackets 42 secured to the platform 16 at the stern end lift the sliding panel 39 when the platform is raised to the over the well position. A pair of rollers 43 ride on the inside surfaces of the walls 13 when the panel is raised and prevent jamming or lateral movement of the platform 16 with respect to the well when the boat hits an obstructionand the platform is raised. The rollers are journalled in short shafts supported in the metal frame 44. A swingable hatch cover 45 normally covers the well 15 and is secured by hinges 46 and a hasp 47.

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been here shown and described, other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shallow draft boat having an opening in the bottom thereof extending inwardly from the stern and terminating at a point spaced from the bow, spaced upstanding walls extending along the sides of said opening and forming a well, and a platform having a rudder and propeller adjacent one end and driving mechanism thereon operatively connected to said propeller positioned at an angle to the horizontal between the walls of said well so that one end is adjacent the stern end of said opening with the rudder and propeller below said opening, said platform being connected intermediate its ends to the walls of said well for movement from the position at an angle to the horizontal to a vertical position above the walls of said well.

2. A shallow draft boat having an opening in the bottom thereof extending inwardly from the stern and terminating at a point spaced from the bow, spaced upstanding walls extending along the sides of said opening and forming a well, a platform having a rudder and a propeller adjacent one end and driving mechanism thereon operatively connected to said propeller positioned at an angle to the horizontal between the walls of said Well so that one end is adjacent the stern end of said opening with the rudder and propeller below said opening, said platform being connected intermediate its ends to the walls of said Well for movement from its position at an angle to the horizontal to a position above the Walls of said well, and means on said platform and engageable with the walls of said well when the platform is at its angle to the horizontal position for maintaining said platform against lateral movement.

3. A shallow draft boat having an opening in the bottom thereof extending inwardly from the stern and terminating at a point spaced from the bow, spaced upstanding walls extending along the sides of said opening and forming a Well, and a platform having a rudder and propeller adjacent one end and driving mechanism thereon operatively connected to said propeller positioned at an angle to the horizontal between the Walls of said well so that one end is adjacent the stern end of said opening with the rudder and propeller below said opening, said platform being connected intermediate its ends to the walls of said well for movement about an axis transverse of said well from its position at an angle to the horizontal to a vertical position above the walls of said well.

4. A shallow draft boat having an opening in the bottom thereof extending inwardly from the stern and terminating at a point spaced from the bow, spaced upstanding walls extending along the sides of said opening and forming a well, and a platform having a rudder and propeller adjacent one end and driving mechanism thereon operatively connected to said propeller positioned at an angle to the horizontal between the walls of said Well so that one end is adjacent the stern end of said opening with the rudder and propeller below said opening, said platform being connected intermediate its ends to the walls of said well for movement about an axis transverse of said well from its position at an angle to the horizontal to a vertical position above the walls of said well, and means on said platform and engageable with the walls of said well when the platform is at its angle to the horizontal position for maintaining said platform against lateral movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,900,180 Harvey Mar. 7, 1933 2,076,603 Svendsen Apr. 13, 1937 2,265,079 Mettair Dec. 2, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 878,610 Germany June 5, 1953 

